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Show Future healfh demands outlined by local offsets Getting more money and professionals to meet the Uintah Basin's growth emerged as the theme Friday as local officials outlined the area's health care situation to the Utah Health Advisory Council. The panel of part-time members, appointed by the Governor, the majority of which are required by law to come from outside the health care industry, held a regular meeting at the Uintah County Courthouse Friday after touring energy industry sites and some of the impacts development has had on housing. A representative of the Ute Indian Tribe told the council about the reservation's battle against health problems, particularly diabetes, in the face of federal budget cutbacks. (See story, page 4.) Uintah Basin Health Department director Rand Webb said the health district needs- another sanitarian. The present sanitarian is so busy that he can only work on an on-call basis, Webb reported. Dr. James Allen, a Vernal physician, said more beds are needed at the Ashley Valley Medical Center. "We're having some real problems," said Uintah Basin Board of Health Chairman Loren Ross. "We are concerned about what we'd do with any future cost." Ross, a Duchesne County commissioner, said financial help from the state has stayed the same the past four years, while Duchesne County has doubled its annual contribution to the three-county district, which also includes Daggett County. Health Advisory Council member Richard Van Winkle said that the best way to pay for the district may be to allow it to collect taxes, even if local leaders don't want more government. "You (the three counties) haven't consolidated to the point where (the revenue) comes in automatically. You've got a terrific problem for growth in the future. You're just seeing the tip of the iceberg." Ross said a new wing of the Duchesne County Hospital will add five or six mills onto the tax levy. "We're already being hit by the cost of health care increases in the county. We're trying to stay away from special districts." Webb said the district receives 55 percent of its funds from the State Department of Health, 25 percent from county governments and the rest from school districts. Dr. James Mason, State Health director, said a hospital would have to show a steady 80 percent occupancy rate in order to get a certificate of need for building an addition. He urged that planning for an addition start right away. Uintah County Clerk Morris Cook said energy development means industrial waste will have to be dealt with, a point later discussed by Dick Johns, director of the State Divison of Community Health Services. Johns said the long-term effects of shale-oil mining and processing are not well known. "Shale oil is known to be carcinogenic to human skin," he a.ided. In addition to the same hazards present with underground coal mining, Johns said there will be surface hazards such as fumes and silica dust related to the actual extraction of oil (Continued on page 3) Future health... ( Continued from page 1 ) from shale. There will also be concerns about water quality, because of the large amounts of water the process will use, and about air quality because of the large amounts of hydro-carbons that will be released. "What about private industry that is exploiting cultivating these resources, doing something to mitigate these impacts?" asked council member Carmen O. Ochoa. "Why must public dollars be used to resolve a problem created by private industry?" "Where the money comes from and where it is spent is a different question," Webb replied, referring to impact money energy firms have spent in the area. He said he would like to see impact money for public health services and to cushion environmental effects such as the need for water and sewer systems. "We've given two or three times the amount of service since 1978 with the same staff," said Webb. "A lot of people have come here from other areas where they've had service. Traditionally, we've tended to take care of ourselves. People didn't want government involvement. Now, they demand it." Webb said "We've had good support from the (county) commissioners," but added that the distances traveled to serve residents in three counties is a problem. He said schools have adequate nursing coverage. Dr. Ron Nielson said the emergency room at the Ashley Valley Medical Center has treated 30 to 35 patients a day , and 1,400 this year through the end of April. The hospital has had a 90 percent occupancy rate, he added. |